Foster a love of animals in children by example

In my own life, respect and love for animals grew during my childhood day-trips and vacations, as my parents frequently took us to local parks, hiking spots and camp sites.

When seeing animals at zoos or even pets walking down the street, my parents would watch my behavior to ensure that I was quiet, careful and respectful. Each of these experiences gave me an opportunity to learn about what animals mean in different aspects of life, and that each encounter is something special.

Through my parents’ example, I learned the importance of keeping my distance and letting animals enjoy their habitat as they would naturally. These lessons easily carried over when we brought pets into our home.

These experiences taught me to think about what kind of planning goes into taking care of a new pet, the role they play in my life and the role I play in theirs. The learning that normalizes this type of thinking happens through small, simple lessons from the adults in a child’s life.

When taking children to the zoo, ask them to observe quietly, and help them understand that screaming, stomping around and pounding on the glass creates a big, scary noise for the animals in the enclosures. Have them imagine how their actions make the animal feel. Encourage them to think about what parts of the habitat contribute to the animal’s natural wants and needs, and help them identify any enrichment items.

Talking to children about how to keep these wild creatures comfortable, happy and satisfied will help children view animals with empathy, as fellow living creatures rather than entertainment.

Outings to parks and hiking and camping spots should take a similar path. If you are lucky enough to encounter animals, stress safety first and explain why keeping proper distance from animals is important for us and for the animal. Remind them that seeing animals in the wild is a special treat, something that happens on the animal’s terms. It is the animals’ home, and we are visitors passing through on our outing.

The most frequent animal encounters will come from the pets we, and the people around us, have at home. For people comfortable with animals, it is easy to assume that every cat or dog is friendly and ready to be pet. But we must be careful to safely lead by example when meeting an animal for the first time.

Always ask the owner first if their animal is ready to be pet. If they say “Yes,” have children offer the animal the back of their hand for sniffing, so the animal can “meet” them. If the animal doesn’t look nervous or back away, gently pet them only on the sides or back until everyone is acquainted.

The Louisiana SPCA likes to teach younger children that one finger is a poke and three fingers is a grab, but two fingers is a gentle pet. This helps keep children from getting too rough with new animals.

For any child who seems nervous, there is no need to force them into meeting animals. A jumping, licking or barking dog can reinforce the child’s fear and make it harder for them to meet animals in the future.

Talk about what body language the animal is displaying, so children know when an animal is friendly. Understanding how cats and dogs communicate with us helps children realize that in most cases, there is no reason to be afraid.

Go slow, and only have them pet the animal when they have adjusted to being close. It might not happen right away, or they might just need a quiet animal to meet. No matter the outcome, tell them they did well spending time with the animal, and encourage them to try again soon.

Whether your kids attend a field trip, camp, scout day or classroom visit, they get the chance to learn about enrichment, care, body language and healthy interactions through hands-on learning. The Louisiana SPCA is here to teach and facilitate discussions about animal welfare and is excited to meet your future animal advocates.